Phillip Grant Cartwright departed this life here on earth on August 23, 2011. Phillip died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Des Arc, Arkansas. He had fought a long battle with heart disease and had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure during a recent hospitalization.

Phillip also battled severe diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. At the time of his death, Phillip was 63 years old.

Born in the state of Washington on February 25, 1948, Phillip was the son of Faye Robinson of Augusta, Arkansas and the late Gerald Cartwright, formerly of Appleton, Wisconsin.

Raised most of his life in Woodruff County Arkansas, Phillip enlisted in the US Navy on July 01, 1965. Phillip was honorably discharged June of 1971 after serving two tours in Viet Nam while stationed aboard the U.S.S. Oriskany. In 1966, while stationed aboard the U.S.S. Oriskany, Phillip acted with bravery and valor during a massive fire that occurred on board the ship that resulted in massive casualties. Due to Phillip's unselfish bravery, he was credited with saving the life of five shipmates including the life of the ship's chaplain. For his service to our country, Phillip was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, the Republic of Viet Nam Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation Medal, and the Viet Nam Service Medal.

Later in life, Phillip became involved with the U.S.S. Oriskany Association and Reunion Association from which he got great pleasure. He was honored to have served as Vice-President from 2003-2005 and subsequently served as President of the Association from 2005-2008. He enjoyed greatly hosting the annual reunion on two separate years and only missed attending the annual reunion when his health prevented his attendance.

Phillip attended the First Baptist Church in Augusta, Arkansas and was also a member of the Masonic Lodge at Des Arc and Hazen. He was a lifetime member of the VFW, Searcy chapter.

Phillip was a simple man but enjoyed many things such as hunting, fishing, gardening, and being a history buff. However, his greatest pleasure in his life was his family.

In recent years, nearly every weekend, "Poppa" (what his grandchildren called him) could be found at a sporting event of some kind, or a dance recital, or a beauty pageant. He loved watching anything that his grandchildren chose to do even if he didn't quite understand the rules of the game, like soccer or volleyball. He always said that he "knew when to cheer and that was all that mattered".

Loved ones preceding Phillip in death were his loving wife of 39 years, Mary Elizabeth "Libby" (Nelson) Cartwright; his grandfather whom he had so many wonderful memories of, Ulysses Grant Blevins; a sister Lynn Salzman; a nephew whom he adored Timothy Wayne Hammond; and son-in-law Jason Travis Lee.

Phillip is survived by his two loving and devoted daughters and two son-in-laws whom Phillip considered to be his sons: Angel (Cartwright) Lee-Burnett and her husband, Paul of Conway, Arkansas and Christina Cartwright of Little Rock, Arkansas and Chris Skouras (father to Allie and Landon) of Vilonia, Arkansas. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren whom he doted upon: Alexandria Elizabeth (Allie) Skouras, Landon Grant Skouras, Isabella Grace Flanagan, Cache Pierce Flanagan, Presley Rae Cartwright, Blevin Thomas Burnett, Bryson Paul Burnett. He is survived by his mother, Faye Robinson of Augusta, Arkansas. He had 3 brothers: James Law (Debbie) of Saulsbury, Tennessee; Steve (Christi) Cartwright of Appleton, Wisconsin; Richard (Bridget) Cartwright of Appleton, Wisconsin and their families. Phillip also had 5 sisters: Brenda Law of Gambrills, Maryland; Glenda (Tom) Cullen of Ellicott City, Maryland; Ginger McGath of Augusta, Arkansas; Trudy Krueger (Jim) of Appleton, Wisconsin; Andrea Wilz (Dave) of Appleton, Wisconsin. Phillip is survived by dozens of cousins, nieces, and nephews all of whom he loved very much.

At the time of his death, he was married to Diane (Tyree) Cartwright of Augusta, Arkansas.

Phillip was a very generous and kind soul to anyone that he encountered. He had a sense of humor that can not be compared to that of any comedian. He loved to laugh and he loved life. It should be said that Phillip (and his late wife Libby, better known as Nana) actually had dozens of "survivors". Over the years, so many "practically grew up" eating dinner every night at their table. Many have said that ‘you were never treated like guests in their house, everyone was family'.

So many people should be listed as survivors because they grew up in the Cartwright home, being loved and treated as if they were blood. Phillip just plain loved people and never met a stranger. If you were his friend, then you were loved.

Phillip was buried during a private graveside burial at Lakeside Cemetery in Des Arc, Arkansas and honored with a memorial service at the First Baptist Church in Augusta, Arkansas on Thursday, August 25, 2011.

The family requests that any memorials be made to the Oriskany Museum, Attention Karen Jacobson, Director, 420 Utica Street Box 284, Oriskany NY 13424 or the local DAV chapter.